The Wiz: By The Numbers And Behind The Scenes

Some stats you should know before you ease on down the road to the Wyly Theatre for Dallas Theater Center's musical The Wiz, opening 8 p.m., Friday, July 8, in a pay-what-you-can preview, before the official opening night on July 15.

0: Price of the pre-show block party, from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, July 8, in front of the Wyly Theatre, featuring live disco music by Le Freak in Strauss Square, gourmet food trucks on Flora Street and backstage tours of the Winspear Opera House.

1: Penny or dollar, whatever you want to pay for Friday's pay-what-you-can preview performance. Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis and seating is limited, so get there early. For this one-time special event, the Wyly Theatre box office will open at 5 p.m. for ticket purchases.

4: Totos fired after Toto Numero Uno lunged at, bit or nipped (reports vary) the actress playing Dorothy at a dress rehearsal. The Wiz is now dog-free.

7: Principal cast members: Trisha Jeffrey as Dorothy, Liz Mikel as Evillene, Denise Lee as Aunt Em/Glenda, James Tyrone Lane as Scarecrow, Sydney James Harcourt as Tinman, David Ryan Smith as Lion and Hassan El-Amin as the Wizard of Oz.

12: Moving seat pods that zoom audience members around the floor of the Wyly Theatre, starting in the tornado scene at the top of the show. Each pod weighs 1200 pounds empty (up to 4000 pounds occupied) and is mounted on swivel-casters.

15: Audience members per pod.

17: Times the pods are moved by the "pod squad" of stagehands during the show.

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